חֲבַיָה (cha.vay.yah)
cha.vay.yah
Habaiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Chavayah, rendered in English as Habaiah or occasionally Hobaiah, means “Jehovah has hidden.” It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, both within the genealogical lists of Ezra and Nehemiah that record the families returning from exile. In these passages, Chavayah is identified as the head of a specific priestly lineage.
His brief mention highlights the importance of family heritage in post-exilic Judah. The texts note that his descendants faced scrutiny regarding their priestly credentials, with Nehemiah 7:63 referring to him as Hobaiah. This variation in spelling underscores how names were adapted during the transition from Babylonian captivity back to Jerusalem.
Though Chavayah himself is not a central figure in the narrative history of the return, his name serves as a reminder of divine providence. The meaning “Jehovah has hidden” suggests that God’s care often operates in ways that are not immediately visible, preserving the lineage of those who remained faithful to their covenant responsibilities despite the challenges of rebuilding.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Habaiah carries a quiet depth: "Jehovah has hidden." In the genealogies of Ezra and Nehemiah, this name marks a priestly family returning from exile. These lists might seem dry, but they reveal God’s care for the ordinary details of life. He preserves lineage and identity even when circumstances are uncertain.
For believers today, this reminds us that God sees what is hidden. Our faithful service often goes unnoticed by the world, yet it is known to Him. Like the descendants of Habaiah, we are part of a larger story where every name and every act of obedience matters in His eyes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hobaiah2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֳבַיָּ֖ה2×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 2:61
Of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, and the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
This verse identifies Habaiah as the head of a priestly family returning from exile, establishing their lineage.
-
Nehemiah 7:63
Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.
Here the name appears as Hobaiah, showing how spelling variations occurred in the records of the returned community.